1. Markers of instability in high-risk carotid plaques are reduced by statins 
Hagen Kunte, MD, Nicola Amberger, MD, Markus Alexander Busch, MD, MPH, Ralph-Ingo Rückert, MD, PhD, Silke Meiners, PhD, Lutz Harms, MD 
Journal of Vascular Surgery 
Volume 47, Issue 3, Pages (March 2008)
DOI: /j.jvs
Copyright © 2008 The Society for Vascular Surgery Terms and Conditions

2. Fig 1
Quantification of the content of macrophages and matrix metalloproteinase-9 within atherosclerotic carotid plaques. Panel a, High-resolution image during processing. Single, overlapping images, framed in blue and green, were joined using the Panorama software stitching technique. As a result, we were able to zoom in on the details and quantitatively analyze the image (×50 original magnification). Panel b, Representative cross-section of macrophage immunoreactivity is shown at high resolution (×400 original magnification). Panel c, Representation of Fig 2, b during the process of specific signal detection at ×400 original magnification. A color threshold mask was defined for the total section areas as well as the areas of macrophage infiltration to detect the percentage of red-colored immunostaining areas compared with the total section area (see Evaluation of Immunohistochemical Stainings). We determined the size of the area occupied by CD68-positive cells planimetrically and calculated the total percentage of macrophage-rich areas in relation to the combined surface area measurements of all cross sections per specimen (sum of macrophage-rich areas of all cross sections in μm2 × 100/sum of surface area of all cross sections in μm2). The total percentage of MMP-9 positive areas was determined by a corresponding approach.
Journal of Vascular Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.jvs )
Copyright © 2008 The Society for Vascular Surgery Terms and Conditions

3. Fig 2
Validation of immunohistochemical analysis for detection of macrophages and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Panel a, Representative cross section shows specific immunoreactivity for macrophages. Anti-CD68 staining results in a granular cytoplasmic staining with red dye precipitates (×100 original magnification). Panel b, Positive control shows specific immunoreactivity for macrophages in a tonsil biopsy specimen. Panel c, Representative cross section shows specific immunoreactivity for MMP-9. The color pattern resulting from anti-MMP-9 staining is cytoplasmic (×100 original magnification) Panel d, Positive control shows specific immunoreactivity for MMP-9 in a liver biopsy specimen.
Journal of Vascular Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.jvs )
Copyright © 2008 The Society for Vascular Surgery Terms and Conditions

4. Fig 3
Characteristic morphologic features of indirect plaque instability. Panel a, Representative cross section showing plaque with thin fibrotic cap and a fixed thrombus in the lumen of the vessel (staining with elastin van Gieson, ×15 original magnification). Panel b, Plaque cross-section with a very large lipid core (staining with elastin van Gieson, ×15 original magnification). Panel c, Plaque cross-section shows a plaque rupture with plaque content erupting from the lipid core (staining with elastin van Gieson, ×50 original magnification). Panel d, Plaque cross-section shows an intraplaque hemorrhage (staining with hematoxylin and eosin, ×50 original magnification).
Journal of Vascular Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.jvs )
Copyright © 2008 The Society for Vascular Surgery Terms and Conditions

5. Fig 4
Box and whisker plots show the distribution of percentage of macrophage-rich area (PMA) in relation to the surface area of all cross-sections per specimen and the total percentage of matrix metalloproteinase-9-positive areas (PMMA-9) in relation to the surface area of all cross-sections per specimen in different patient groups. Boxes represent the interquartile range (IQR) and the centerlines represent the median. The whiskers extend to the upper and lower adjacent values (±1.5 × IQR).
Journal of Vascular Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.jvs )
Copyright © 2008 The Society for Vascular Surgery Terms and Conditions